LOFT IN FLORENCE

Attention: Temporarily closed!In the heart of the historic centre, yet set apart on a quiet little piazza, the first thing to catch the eye is the Pagliazza Byzantine tower, the oldest in the city and the only one circular in form. Once through the entrance of the Hotel Brunelleschi, guests are accompanied to the first floor of the tower, where the restaurant is to be found: an intimate dining room adorned with a Murano chandelier and just six tables. The culinary offering reveals a strong Mediterranean inspiration, with marine echoes that surface throughout the combinations of flavours. The d

In the world of fine dining, Via Ghibellina is synonymous with Enoteca Pinchiorri: the magnificent seventeenth-century palazzo that houses it is home to one of the most iconic restaurants in Italy, a true legend of gastronomy. Opened in 1972 by Annie Féolde and Giorgio Pinchiorri, what began as a modest wine shop with a kitchen has over time become a great restaurant, in which Florentine history and elegance intertwine among paintings, frescoes and vivid arrangements of fresh flowers. At the stove, the cooking aspires to a refinement free of ostentation, eschewing fleeting fashions in favour o

In the heart of artistic, monumental Florence, elegant spaces unfold on the first floor of Hotel La Gemma, enveloped in soft lighting and refined details. The cuisine is pared-back yet rich in nuance, where quality ingredients meet creativity. Among the most captivating offerings: goat tagliolini with anchovies, Sorrento lemon, and caviar; squab cappelletti; and prized wagyu beef. For a romantic dinner, choose one of the oval tables overlooking the kitchen, where the chef’s gestures become part of the show.

A few steps from the Duomo, within the Corte degli Imperatori of Palazzo Portinari, the historic former residence of the Salviati family, the restaurant occupies a setting of rare beauty, enriched by sixteenth-century frescoes by Alessandro Allori and the soothing sound of a fountain. An authentic Renaissance salon transformed into a refined dining room. The kitchen distinguishes itself through technical precision and elegance, bringing out the very best of the highest-quality produce in dishes that are creative yet always balanced and never contrived. Emblematic is the lightly seared langoust

At this restaurant, Ariel Hagen, a young and friendly chef who, despite his name, hails from Florence, divides his time between the open-view kitchen and the tables in the dining room, where he happily explains dishes to guests and shares his enthusiasm for sustainability. His dishes are showcased on tasting menus but can also be chosen individually à la carte style from either menu depending on your preference. Among the desserts, don’t miss the Caterina De' Medici’s rose, a modern version of the traditional Florentine “zuccotto” cake with a beautiful combination of milk and Alkermes liqueur.

True to itself as always, Il Latini is a real Florentine institution, which continues to keep Tuscan traditions alive both in its small, rustic-style dining rooms and in its typical regional cuisine prepared with careful attention to detail and a respectful approach. Florentine steak takes pride of place on the menu, which also features the local hams that hang from the ceiling. Specialities include pappa al pomodoro, Florentine tripe and ribollita stew, as well as cantucci with vin santo, the typical finale to any Tuscan meal. Generations may pass but the appeal of this convivial and welcomin

In the San Niccolò district, in the heart of Oltrarno, there is a decidedly unusual restaurant. You won't find yourself occupying the usual kind of seating here, as most guests dine on tall stools at a long counter, rather like in a sushi bar. The atmosphere evokes the Far East but the recipes here are typically Tuscan: simple, well-executed dishes, listed on a blackboard that changes with the seasons and according to the chef's inspiration. The menu ranges from oven-baked courgettes stuffed with meat to pici pasta with ricotta and fresh tomato pesto, from “ribollita” to “peposo”, and stuffed